I refer to a news item in The Gleaner of January 13 titled 'Church playing critical role', which is a report from a speech by the prime minister at a banquet.The occasion was said to be the 345th anniversary of the St Dorothy's Anglican Church, Old Harbour. The article stated that the church was founded in 1663.

Unfortunately, this date is a figment of someone's imagination. Not only does the date predate the arrival of the first Anglican clergymen to Jamaica, but the parish of St Dorothy (from which the church takes its name) was not established until 1675. The church itself was established around 1681 and the records reveal that the first rector was in place in 1682.

Apart from St Dorothy's, several other churches were established in the 17th century but none of the early church buildings has survived in their original form as they succumbed to the ravages of hurricanes and other natural disasters.

- John A. Aarons

johnaarons@mail.com

Honorary ArchivistAnglican Church and former government archivistJamaica Archives

I am puzzled by the way some members of our society welcome the elevation of President Barack Obama to that high office, noting that he is coming from humble beginnings, etc.

Yet, it was some of those same people who tried to belittle Portia Simpson Miller who also came from a humble beginnings to be elevated to one of the highest office of the land. We must stop speaking through two sides of our mouth and be proud of our own as well as others who have move from the bottom of the ladder to the top.

- Alphanso Clarke

clarkybless@yahoo.com

Bonny Gate PO

St Mary

Harold Malcolm believes that the level of respect for the prime minister is directly related to the magnificence of the car he drives. His letter to The Gleaner 'Let the prime minister have his car' (January 24) gushes with this sentiment.

If that is true, all our prime ministers would be foolish to drive in anything other than the latest model Rolls Royce. Malcolm displays an unbridled materialistic mentality that is the bane of our country. Respect would descend on the prime minister like flood waters if he solved our crime problems, provided jobs and filled a few more potholes.

He would be showered with gratitude and respect if he started dismantling the garrisons and improved the quality of our police force. If he could accomplish these things, he would have the love and respect of all Jamaicans even if he drove a 16-year-old deportee.

- R Oscar Lofters

lofters1@aol.com

Kingston 8